Obituary: Colonel Sven Wiberg
After fifty eight years of service as a Salvation Army officer, Colonel Sven Wiberg has received the call to lay down the sword and to enter into the presence of the King, there to receive the crown of immortality and of victory, and to dwell forever in the presence of his Lord.
In the town of Jonkoping, in Sweden, The Salvation Army had just opened fire, and among the earliest converts was Sven Wiberg, who was sworn in among the first group of recruits to become soldiers of that famous old corps.
A few years before, at the early age of sixteen, on the death of his father [step father] young Sven had opportunity to learn significant lessons in responsibility and leadership, which were to stand him in good stead in the days to come.
In 1899 [typo - should be 1889], this young enthusiast, brimming over with zeal for the cause of Christ, became an officer, and three years later he was on his way to the United States in response to a call for officers to lead the rapidly growing Scandinavian work in this country.
It was in New York City that the Colonel met young Lieutenant Charlotte Anderson, who, a few years later, became the Colonel's bride, a union of mind and heart and spirit which has been a delight and a blessing not only to Colonel and Mrs. Wiberg, but to all who have known them through the years.
Colonel and Mrs. Wiberg commanded many corps in the United States, the Colonel becoming a Divisional Officer before they were called home to Sweden, where they served for nine years, during seven of which the Colonel was the Training College Principal. Then came another call to fill the same position for six years in Japan.
In 1920 Colonel and Mrs. Wiberg left Japan to spend five more years in Sweden, and in 1925 they once more returned to the United States, where the Colonel took charge of the Scandinavian work in the Eastern Territory until their retirement from active service in 1930.
Officers in all parts of the world will have blessed memories of the Colonel's ministry. Some will remember the burning zeal of his youth and his untiring efforts to win the people for Christ; others will remember his public addresses which stirred large audiences for so many years; others will remember the kindly Christian gentleman who was never known to betray a trust nor a confidence and whose unfailing faith in God has been as a bulwark to many a discouraged, fainting spirit.
May our loving Heavenly Father bless and comfort Mrs. Wiberg and all who are bereaved, especially the Colonel's sons, Major Hugo, Hartford, Conn.; Samuel, in South Africa; Caleb, in Newark, N. J., and Sven, in Yonkers, N. Y.